Refrigerator cabinet gasket



Dec. 9, 1941. J. L. KNIGHT I 2,265,693

REFRIGERATOR CABINET GASKET Filed Sept. 7, 1940 Figl.

Irwverwtor: James L.Kni ht,

b Je aJ' y His Attorrwey.

Patented Dec. 9, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE v 2,265,693 mzrarenna'ron csnnvn'r GASKET James L. Knight, Erie, Pa., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application September '1, 1940, Serial No. 355,778 Claims. (Cl. 288-22) My invention relates to refrigerators and more particularly to sealing means adapted for use in refrigerator cabinets.-

The objects andadvantages of my invention will become apparent as the following. description 5 vof my invention;v Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view, partly broken away, of the refrigerator cabinet shown in Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the sealing member or gasket shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Referring to the drawing, in Fig. l I have shown arefrigerator cabinet ll embody g my invention. The cabinet includes an outer sheet metal-casing or shell having an opening l2 in the top wall thereof. The cooling or food storage compartment I3 is provided with an open-top inner liner l4. defining the bottom and side walls thereof. An opening I5 is provided in the front wall of the cabinet which is closed by a suitable heat insulated door, not shown. The space between the liners or casings II and I4 is filled with suitable heat insulation l6 and the space between my invention ,10

the edges of the liners is closed by breaker strips ll of suitable'thermally resistant material. The

upper portion of the heat insulation l6 surrounding the opening in the top of the cabinet may be covered by a moisture-proofed cloth band It! in order to retard absorption of moisture by the insulating material. The food storage compartment I3 is designed to be cooled by a cooling element, not shown, inserted through the opening metal cover I9 is provided to cover the'cooling 'unit and the. heat insulati n placed in the topwall and is'constructed with a downwardly extending peripheral flange 20 having an intumed portion 2| at the marginal edge thereof.

I have provided means iEorsealing the space between the flange 2| andthe iii-turned flange 22 iof the outer casing II in order to minimize further'the entry of moisture into the heat insulation. This means takes the form of a gasket 23 50 of resilient material, such as rubber, ha ving a hollow striking bead 24, one face25 thereof being substantially flat. In order to retain or secure the gasket to the intumed portion 2| I havep'rovided a lip 26 attached to the flat side or portion 55 l2 in the top wall of the cabinet Ill.- A sheetof my invention, I do not desire my 25 and which extends substantially parallel thereto, thereby providing a recess for recei the inturned portion 2| of the cover IS. The parts are preferably so dimensioned that there is fric- There is provided a tangentially disposed portion 21 of resilient material, such as rubber, preferably integral with the gasket 23 and located at the outer edge thereof. This portion may slant or extend outwardly a small amount and is.pref erably thick. enough to render the outer edge of the gasket relatively inflexible compared to the striking bead in order to minimize buckling under I compression. The portion 21 is made substantially shorter than the minor axis of the generally elliptical striking bead 24 or, in other words,

the length of the portion 21 is less than the thickness of the striking bead in the unstressed condition thereof whereby the portion 21 serves to limit to some extent the amount of compression possible in connection with the striking bead 2|.

The provision of the portlon 2'| tends more accurately to space the cover from the main portion of the cabinet so that the pressure on the gasket is evenly distributed. This construction also prevents excessive compression of the gasket thereby providing a gasketof increased length of life. Furthermore, by providing the portion 21 with a substantially flat outer surface, the appearance I of the assembled cover and cabinet is improved.

' The front edge of the cover I9 is held inplace by members 28 suitably secured as by welding at one end to the flange 22 and engaging at the other end the lip 26 af. the gasket. The rear edge of the cover is held in place by bracket members 29 suitably secured as by -means of threaded fastening members 30 engaging correspondingly threaded nuts 3| secured to the inner surfaces of the cover and outer casing, respectively, as by welding, for example.

While I have shown a particular embodiment initntion to be limited to the particular construction shown and described and I intend in the appended claims to cover all modifications within the spiri and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentof the United States is:

1. A- gasket for refrigerator cabinets and the like, comprising a hollow striking bead of resilient material, and an integral portionof resilient, material disposed tangentially of the outer edge of the bead, the length of the portion in the direction of. the thickness of said bead being less tional engagement on both sides of the portioncondition thereof, and said portion haying a sub- V gentially of the outer edge of said bead-in the direction of the thickness .of said bead, said portion having a substantially flat outer face. 3. A gasket for refrigerator cabinets and the like, comprising a hollow striking bead of resilient material, and an integral portion of resilient material tangential to the outer edge of the bead and extending substantially in the direction of the thickness of the bead, the length of said portion being sub tially less'than the thickness of said head in the unstressed condition thereof.

4. A gasket for refrigerator cabinets and the like, comprising a 'hollow striking bead of -re-' silient material, and an integral portion of re- 20 silient material tangential to the outer edge of said bead, the length of said portion-being substantially lws than the thickness of said bead in 1 the unstressed condition thereof; said portion being of greater thickness than the wall of the bead.

5. A gasket for refrigerator cabinets and the like, comprising a hollow striking bead of resilient material having a flat side, and an integral portion of resilient material disposed tangential to the outer edge of said bead, a retaining portion projecting from said flat side and'extending substantially parallel thereto, thereby providing a recess along one side of the gasket for the reception of the member towhich the gasket is -to be 7 retained, the length of' said integral portion in the direction of the thickness of said bead being substantiallytless than the thickness of said head in the unstressed condition thereof. 7

' JAMES L. KNIGHT. 

